Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

horseshoe theory

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.15 in modern English

Syllables: horse-shoe the-o-ry
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

name

The theory that the far left and the far right, rather than being at opposite ends of a political continuum, in fact closely resemble one another.

Example Sentences

"There is some evidence, contradictory as it is, that if the PDS [Party of Democratic Socialism] did not exist, then the consequence would be a strengthening of the DVU [German People's Union], the NPD [National Democratic Party of Germany] and the Republikaner […] This does not mean, however, that I subscribe to the ever-present but increasingly orthodox horseshoe theory of political analysis […]"
"Some political scientists have suggested a “horseshoe theory,” with the center as the rounded top of a horseshoe and the two fringes on either end, but inclined toward one another. This image, while evocative, isn’t quite right. In the archive, it looks more like a circle."
"It just speaks to these unlikely bedfellows — like my doppelgänger and Steve Bannon. It’s kind of an alternative to the horseshoe theory, I suppose, because the horseshoe theory sort of assumes that it’s the far left and far right."

Etymology

Referring to the curved shape of a horseshoe, whose two ends come close to meeting.

Inflected Forms

the horseshoe theory (canonical)

Phrases

alt-left fishhook theory

Frequently Paired Words

alt-left diagonalism fishhook theory

Questions

What does horseshoe theory mean?: The theory that the far left and the far right, rather than being at opposite ends of a political continuum, in fact closely resemble one another.
Where does horseshoe theory come from?: Referring to the curved shape of a horseshoe, whose two ends come close to meeting.

How to pronounce horseshoe theory

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